S&T’s first building: the Rolla Building

Missouri S&T’s first building still stands and is home to our mathematics and statistics department. Built for Rolla’s high school, the City of Rolla originally owned the building and leased half of it to the University of Missouri Board of Curators for the soon-to-be university.

Construction was completed just five days before the university opened on Nov. 6, 1871.

In January 1875, Missouri S&T purchased the building from the city for $25,000. 

Today the Rolla Building joins Parker Hall and Norwood Hall as the only remaining buildings where students were educated during our first 50 years.

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

Hilary (Kuehn) and Christopher Zerr

Hilary (Kuehn) and Christopher Zerr

Hilary (Kuehn) was living in the Residential College in August 2006 when her roommate, Emilie, took her to a party…

Amanda (Gealy) and Logan Meyer

Amanda (Gealy) and Logan Meyer

Amanda (Gealy) and Logan Meyer met through mutual friends during St. Pat’s in 2010. Amanda earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees…

Lindsay (McNamee) and Garrett Blanchard

Lindsay (McNamee) and Garrett Blanchard

Lindsay (McNamee) and Garrett Blanchard met on a trip with other Christian Campus Fellowship members to the International Conference on…

Chain reaction

Chain reaction

Take 60 sleep-deprived students — easy enough to find in Rolla — and add 450,000 strips of newsprint and 530,000…

Using glass to treat cancer

Using glass to treat cancer

An expert in developing specialty glasses for use in health care, transportation infrastructure and other applications, Delbert Day is known…

Float like a butterfly

Float like a butterfly

Few have shared the ring with Muhammad Ali or been praised by the New York Times as “one of America’s…